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IngolfurArnarson-EJ.jpg
IngolfurArnarson-EJ.jpg
statue of Ingólfur Arnarson by Einar Jónsson
Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. He was, however, not the first Scandinavian to visit and live on the island. The first one was the Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson who stayed for a winter at Húsavík. In 874, Ingólfur built his homestead in Reykjavík, this marked the beginning of the age of settlement that lasted until 930. When Ingólfur's ship approached the unsettled land he ordered that his high seat pillars should to be thrown overboard and the spot where they landed would be the place to build the first permanent settlement of Iceland.
Following is a excerpt from Eyrbyggja Saga which describes this:
- Then Thorolf cast overboard the pillars of his high-seat, which had been in the temple, and on one of them was Thor carven; withal he spake over them, that there he would abide in Iceland, whereas Thor should let those pillars come a-land.